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Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP)

Frequently Asked Questions... about Financial Disclosure Form (SF-714)

If you need help with the Financial Disclosure Form contact Robert.Link.ctr@osd.pentagon.mil Otherwise - contact the OPM Help Desk at 866-631-3019

Sections include:

Overview;  |  Employee Identification;  |  Annual Income;  |  Bank Accounts;  |  Investment Accounts;  |  Owned Real Estate;  |  Owned Vehicles, Boat, Airplanes, Other;  |  Real Estate You Lease or Rent From Another;  |  Leased Vehicles, Boats, Airplanes, Other;  |  Other Assets;  |  Mortgages, Loans and Other Liabilities;  |  Credit Cards;  |  Additional Income/Bankruptcy;  |  Safe Deposit Box;  |  Comments;  |  Certification;

Overview

1. Who has to complete the Financial Disclosure Form?
2. Why do I have to do this (what is the legal basis for the financial disclosure form)?
3. When do I have to file and what is the filing period covered on the Financial Disclosure Form?
4. How often do I complete the Financial Disclosure Form (FDF)?
5. What records do I need in order to answer the FDF questions?
6. What does financial disclosure have to do with espionage?
7. How is this new program to be "rolled out" to the workforce?
8. I am already required to complete the SF 278 or OGE 450 financial disclosure report; am I required to also complete the Financial Disclosure Form?
9. Is the Financial Disclosure Form a standard form?
10. What are the categories of information collected on the FDF?
11. What is the definition of reporting year?
12. Should I answer the questions in dollar amounts only?
13. What are the reporting dollar threshold amounts?
14. Who is responsible for analyzing my Financial Disclosure information?
15. Who should I contact if I need help in completing my Financial Disclosure Form?
16. How do I sign and date the FDF since I am submitting it electronically?
17. Who will have access to my completed Financial Disclosure Form data?
18. Do I have to submit my Financial Disclosure Form electronically?
19. How long will it take to complete the Financial Disclosure Form (FDF)?
20. How do I save my financial information on the system?
21. Can the form be completed in different sessions, e.g. can I start and stop, and will information be saved, to allow me to come back where I ended?
22. Does a detailee from another agency have to complete the Financial Disclosure Form?
23. I'm a DoD employee but I work at another agency's facility. Do I complete the DoD FDF or the other agency's form?
24. My spouse also works at the same agency as I do, do both of us have to complete the Financial Disclosure Form?
25. Is the completed Financial Disclosure Form classified?
26. What are the consequences of not completing the Financial Disclosure Form?
27. What are the penalties for not filing the Financial Disclosure Form by the filing date?
28. Instead of completing the Financial Disclosure Form, could I just provide a copy of my IRS 1040 form?
29. Is the Financial Disclosure Form part of the reinvestigation process?
30. I will be TDY on the suspense date and will not meet the deadline. What should I do?
31. I plan on retiring before the form is due. Am I required to complete the Financial Disclosure Form after I retire?
32. Where will the completed Financial Disclosure Form be stored?
33. I have looked at the Financial Disclosure Form (FDF) and I do not think I can complete it without help from my accountant. Can I be reimbursed for the amount I pay my accountant for helping me complete the FDF?
34. Can I be compensated for the time I spend at home gathering all of my financial information?
35. Should I complete the FDF on my work or home computer?

1. Who has to complete the Financial Disclosure Form?

   Answer: Individuals designated by their Agency Head will be required to complete the Financial Disclosure Form.

2. Why do I have to do this (what is the legal basis for the financial disclosure form)?

   Answer: The Financial Disclosure Program (FDP) is required by the "Counterintelligence and Security Enhancements Act of 1994" (also known as Public Law 103-359, Section 801 and codified in part at 50 U.S.C. 435) and Executive Order 12968, titled "Access to Classified Information." The Public Law states that all employees in the executive branch of Government who require regular access to particularly sensitive classified information shall be required, as a condition of maintaining access to such information, to submit relevant information concerning their financial condition. Particularly sensitive classified information includes information about: the identity of covert agents; intelligence collection and processing systems; certain cryptographic systems and equipment; particularly sensitive special access programs; and especially sensitive nuclear weapons design information. Executive Order 12968 states that all employees granted access to those categories of classified information shall be required as a condition of such access to provide to the agency, on a periodic basis, a financial disclosure report, including information with respect to the spouse and dependent children.

3. When do I have to file and what is the filing period covered on the Financial Disclosure Form?

   Answer: The filing period is 15 February through 15 May for individuals submitting their form annually OR as determined by the Head of their agency. The information requested on the form covers the preceding calendar year, January 1 through December 31.

4. How often do I complete the Financial Disclosure Form (FDF)?

   Answer: Unless directed otherwise, once you have been selected to complete the FDF, you must update it on an annual basis.

5. What records do I need in order to answer the FDF questions?

   Answer: Records that you may need include: IRS 1040 form; bank and credit union year-end statements; investment or IRA year-end statements; real estate records; capital improvement cost records; records relating to real estate, vehicles, boats or airplanes you lease or rent from another; cost records about assets that you own; records about your mortgages, loans, liabilities, credit cards; bankruptcy records and safe deposit box information.

6. What does financial disclosure have to do with espionage?

   Answer: Money is often a motive for committing espionage.

   The case of Aldrich Ames provides a good example of the importance of examining the financial status of cleared personnel. In February 1994, CIA employee Ames was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit espionage. During the investigation, it was discovered that in September 1989, Ames paid $540,000 in cash for a house.

   Robert Hanssen was an FBI employee for 27 years. He sold secrets for $600,000 in cash and diamonds. After his arrest, Hanssen stated that meaningful financial disclosure would have been the security technique that would have provided the greatest deterrence to his espionage.

7. How is this new program to be "rolled out" to the workforce?

   Answer: Implementation of the financial disclosure requirement is being phased in over a number of years. It is anticipated that all employees, with regular access to especially sensitive classified information will be required to file. Within the Department of Defense, full implementation is required by December 31, 2012.

8. I am already required to complete the SF 278 or OGE 450 financial disclosure report; am I required to also complete the Financial Disclosure Form?

   Answer: Yes. You will need to complete both. The forms collect different information. The SF 278 and OGE 450 are conflict of interest related documents. The SF 714 Financial Disclosure Form is used to identify cases involving unexplained affluence or financial hardship.

9. Is the Financial Disclosure Form a standard form?

   Answer: Yes, the SF 714 Financial Disclosure Report, also known as the Financial Disclosure Form has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget as a standard form.

10. What are the categories of information collected on the FDF?

    Answer: Major categories include: employee identification; annual income; bank accounts; investment accounts; owned real estate; owned vehicles, boats and airplanes; leased real estate; leased vehicles, boats and airplanes; other assets; mortgages, loans and other liabilities; credit cards; bankruptcy; safe deposit box and comments.

11. What is the definition of reporting year?

    Answer: Reporting year is the preceding calendar year for which the information is being reported (January 1-December 31).

12. Should I answer the questions in dollar amounts only?

    Answer: Yes. Please round your answer to the nearest US dollar; do not list cents. Convert any foreign monies to US dollars.

13. What are the reporting dollar threshold amounts?

    Answer: Listed are the reportable dollar thresholds:

    • For wages and salary and other income, $500
    • For interest and dividend income, $25
    • For capital improvement costs, $5,000
    • For owned vehicles, boats and airplanes, purchase price of $1,000
    • For vehicles, boats and airplanes you lease or rent from another, monthly rental payment of $50
    • For other assets, year-end balance of $5,000 for each category.
    • For mortgages, loans, and other liabilities year-end balance of $500
    • For credit cards, year-end balance of $500

14. Who is responsible for analyzing my Financial Disclosure information?

    Answer: Analysis is performed by computer and by a strictly limited number of individuals with expertise in financial analysis.

15. Who should I contact if I need help in completing my Financial Disclosure Form?

    Answer: You should send an email to Robert.Link.ctr@osd.pentagon.mil

16. How do I sign and date the FDF since I am submitting it electronically?

    Answer: Within the Certification section (Section 15), there is a statement that reads: "I certify that the entries made by me are true, complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. I understand that knowing and willful false statement on this form can be punished by fine or imprisonment or both. (See US Code Title 18, Section 1001.) Within the Signature block it reads: "Do not sign at this time." Click on "Continue" in order to certify your form and to proceed to the next screen. On the Release Investigation Request screens, you should click on the link to Display the Archival Copy and the Signature Form. After printing these, sign, date and retain. DO NOT SUBMIT the printed copies to anyone even though the Instruction screen states that you should submit the forms to the office requesting your investigation. It is very important that you click on the "Release Request/Transmit to Agency" button. You are not finished unless you see the next screen titled "Farewell".

17. Who will have access to my completed Financial Disclosure Form data?

    Answer: Only a limited number of individuals (analysts, investigators, and adjudicators) with a strict "need to know" will have access to your information. In many cases the data will only be reviewed by computer.

18. Do I have to submit my Financial Disclosure Form electronically?

    Yes, you must submit your Form electronically.

19. How long will it take to complete the Financial Disclosure Form (FDF)?

    Answer: It is not possible to provide an exact timeframe because each person's financial status is different. After completing the FDF the first year, it is projected that completion of subsequent forms will require far less time because most of your previously reported information will be repopulated into your FDF for the new year.

20. How do I save my financial information on the system?

    Answer: The system automatically saves your information each time you proceed to a new screen. Also you can click on the "Save" tab at the bottom of each screen at any time.

21. Can the form be completed in different sessions, e.g. can I start and stop, and will information be saved, to allow me to come back where I ended?

    Answer: Yes. You can start and stop. Just make sure you finish one screen completely and then go to a new screen but do not answer any questions on the new screen. Log out and the system will save your information automatically.

22. Does a detailee from another agency have to complete the Financial Disclosure Form?

    Answer: Detailees will be required to file if designated by their Agency Head.

23. I'm a DoD employee but I work at another agency's facility. Do I complete the DoD FDF or the other agency's form?

    Answer: The answer depends upon the agreement made between the agency where you work and your home agency. Consult with your Security Manager.

24. My spouse also works at the same agency as I do, do both of us have to complete the Financial Disclosure Form?

    Answer: If you and your spouse have been selected by your Agency Head to file, both of you must complete and file a separate form.

25. Is the completed Financial Disclosure Form classified?

    Answer: No, it is Unclassified/For Official Use Only. Access to the information you submit is limited to only a small number of authorized individuals (analysts, investigators, and adjudicators) who have a strict "need to know".

26. What are the consequences of not completing the Financial Disclosure Form?

    Answer: If an employee (civilian, military, contractor) fails to comply with the requirements of the Financial Disclosure Program, the employee's access to classified information may be suspended, revoked or denied.

27. What are the penalties for not filing the Financial Disclosure Form by the filing date?

    Answer: Undue delay in providing a complete FDF by the established deadline may result in administrative action being taken including possible loss or suspension of access to classified information. Providing false or misleading information on an FDF may result in administrative or criminal action authorized by regulation or law.

28. Instead of completing the Financial Disclosure Form, could I just provide a copy of my IRS 1040 form?

    Answer: No, the IRS 1040 form primarily consists of income information. The FDF requests information about income, assets and liabilities. You may find it useful to refer to your IRS 1040 form in order to answer many of the FDF questions about annual income.

29. Is the Financial Disclosure Form part of the reinvestigation process?

    Answer: Each agency will decide whether the FDF will be linked to their reinvestigation process.

30. I will be TDY on the suspense date and will not meet the deadline. What should I do?

    Answer: You should complete the FDF before you go on TDY. If this is not possible, you should request an extension from your Security Manager.

31. I plan on retiring before the form is due. Am I required to complete the Financial Disclosure Form after I retire?

    Answer: Generally, you will not be required to file after you retire. However, if you plan to retain/pass your security clearance after retirement, you may still be required to file.

32. Where will the completed Financial Disclosure Form be stored?

    Answer: The FDF will be stored in an approved, secure data base that is only accessible to a small number of authorized personnel, whose access to those files will be logged and closely monitored.

33. I have looked at the Financial Disclosure Form (FDF) and I do not think I can complete it without help from my accountant. Can I be reimbursed for the amount I pay my accountant for helping me complete the FDF?

    Answer: No. The amount is not reimbursable.

34. Can I be compensated for the time I spend at home gathering all of my financial information?

    Answer: You cannot be compensated for the time you spend at home gathering your financial information.

35. Should I complete the FDF on my work or home computer?

    Answer: It is preferable that you complete the Financial Disclosure Form on your home computer. You should only use your work computer if approved by your supervisor.

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